US Olympians' Medical Data Released by Russian Hackers: Latest Details, Comments

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) stated Tuesday a "Russian cyber espionage group" identified as Fancy Bear, hacked into its database and revealed medical information regarding some American athletes, per the Associated Press (via NBC Sports). 

"These criminal acts are greatly compromising the effort by the global anti-doping community to re-establish trust in Russia," WADA director general Olivier Niggli said.

In a statement on their official website, WADA identified the data the hackers targeted:

"

The group accessed athlete data, including confidential medical data -- such as Therapeutic Use Exemptions delivered by International Sports Federations (IFs) and National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) -- related to the Rio Games; and, subsequently released some of the data in the public domain, accompanied by the threat that they will release more.

"

On Wednesday, WADA confirmed another 25 athletes from the United States, the Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain and Denmark, per the Associated Press (via CBC.ca). 

Simone Biles was among the Americans named in the hack. Biles released a statement on Twitter:

USA Gymnastics shared a statement on Twitter defending the four-time gold medalist:

The International Tennis Federation confirmed to the New York Times' Rebecca R. Ruiz that Serena and Venus Williams—both of whom were also named by the hackers—received exemptions to use banned substances.

Travis Tygart, president of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, condemned the cyber attack:

"

In each of the situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication. It's unthinkable that in the Olympic movement, hackers would illegally obtain confidential medical information in an attempt to smear athletes to make it look as if they have done something wrong.

"

The leak comes after WADA revealed a massive state-sponsored doping program and coverup in Russia going back to the 2014 Winter Olympics. Although WADA asked the International Olympic Committee to ban any Russians from competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics, the IOC allowed 271 of the country's 389 representatives to take part.

Biles and the Williams sisters aren't the first athletes to have personal information leaked in the aftermath of the revelations about Russian doping. In August, hackers targeted Russian distance runner Yuliya Stepanova, one of the whistleblowers in WADA's investigation.